Tag: goldenrod

by Donna Lewis

Got a headache, coughing and sneezing?

If you have some or all of these you probably have Giant Ragweed ( Ambrosia trifida). I certainly don’t think it’s ambrosia…it’s awful! I don’t see how you could  make rags out of it. Where do these names come from?

So are they good for anything?  As it turns out, I looked in my reference book, Medicinal Plants by Peterson and found out that the native Americans did use it for certain ailments. They used it as an astringent, to stop bleeding, dysentery, and insect bites to name a few. Today it is commercially harvested for the treatment of ragweed allergies.

So, yes it has a few saving characteristics.

Also out in the pastures right now is a very valuable plant that our migrating monarchs use.  It is in the Sunflower family: goldenrod. 

The native Americans used this for many medical issues: roots for burns, flower tea for fevers and snakebites, crushed flowers for sore throats, and some other ailments.

Both these plants can cause severe allergic reactions, so don’t try any for medical ailments unless you have asked your doctor first.

Always something interesting to learn out there.